Portable ice melting device

ABSTRACT

An ice melting device comprising a body section comprising at least one blower and a heater. The blower heater comprises at least one heating coil and at least one shield forming a thermal shield for the heater. There is at least one nozzle for directing air produced by the blower, wherein the heater is positioned downstream of the blower so that fluid flow produced by the blower passes the heater and is heated by the heater and is then passed through the nozzle so that the hot air melts ice on a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an ice melting device comprising a blower and a heater. The ice melting device can be in the form of a portable ice melting device which can be carried by hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one embodiment of the invention relates to an ice melting device comprising a body section and at least one blower and/or a heater. The blower heater comprises at least one heating coil and at least one shield forming a thermal shield for the heater. There is at least one nozzle for directing air produced by the blower, wherein the heater is positioned downstream of the blower so that fluid/air flow produced by the blower passes the heater and is heated by the heater and is then passed through the nozzle so that the heated air melts ice on a surface.

Because the device utilizes blown air, particularly heated blown air, it allows a user to clear an area without the use of salts, or sand which may alter the user's environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose at least one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a snow melting device;

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the snow melting device;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of another embodiment of a snow melting device;

FIG. 4 shows an end view of the spacer of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a two part body based upon the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the device showing the three sections of the body, and showing the nozzle which is capable of being separated from the body as well.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of a snow melting device 10, which comprises a body comprising a first section 20 and a second section 30. This snow melting device is configured as an electrical snow melting device however other snow melting devices can be gas powered as well as shown in FIG. 3. First section 20 includes a first handle 26 and a second handle 27.

In this view, the housing can be a single piece or include at least two detachable pieces such as first section or housing 20 and second section or housing 30. Positioned between first section and second section is a coupling element 25 which is configured to allow the two sections to be coupled together. This allows the housing to be opened and therefore allows additional components to be positioned inside or easy access for purposes of repair.

In addition there is another housing 35, which is detachable from second section or housing 30. This housing 35 is coupled to second housing 30 via a coupling element 37 which is configured to couple third housing 35 to second housing 30 and allow the device to be opened so that additional components such as a heating element or coil 90 can be positioned inside. This third housing can also be in the form of a separately self contained housing for heating element 90. A button or switch 39 is positioned on housing 35 which is configured to allow the user to selectively turn heating element 90 on.

This electrical embodiment includes a transformer or power supply 50 which is coupled to an outlet or cable 65 which is configured to receive power from a power source such as an extension cord or similar power providing device. For example, in at least one embodiment, the device can include a self contained cable, while in another embodiment, the device can include an outlet configured to receive a cable such as an extension cord to receive power from that extension cord.

In addition, there is an electric motor 60 which is in electrical communication with transformer 50 and which receives power from transformer 50. Transformer 50 is configured so that it transforms AC incoming power which is usually at 120V (volts) 60 hz (hertz) from a standard power source into regulated DC power which powers the electric motor 60. Electric motor 60 can be controlled by an on/off switch 28 such that it can be turned on and off. In addition, electric motor 60 can also include at least two settings which are controlled by a slide switch 29. Slide switch 29 allows the device to be controlled or set in at least two different settings such as a high setting or a low setting, wherein the high setting results in a larger amount of air or fluid being pushed or driven by fan 70.

Disposed inside of the body or housing such as housing 30 is a fan 70 which is powered by the electric motor 60. Motor 60 creates a relatively high powered blowing effect by turning fan 70. Disposed downstream of fan 70 is a heater coil 90 which is disposed inside third housing 35 and which is covered by a shield 93 such as shown in FIG. 2. Shield can extend over housing 35 as well as along any desired length of nozzle 91.

Heater coil 90 is an electric coil configured to heat up the air flowing past coil 90 and down nozzle 91, such that the air leaving nozzle 91 is of a sufficient temperature to suitably melt ice or snow once it is in contact with this heated air. Heater coil 90 can extend along any desired length of nozzle 91 suitable to create enough desired heat for fluid such as air passing this heated coil to melt ice or snow. This process of passing air across a heated coil or surface to create heated air results in heating through convection.

For example, in at least one embodiment, the air leaving the nozzle could be above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or above 150 degrees Fahrenheit, or above 180 degrees Fahrenheit or even higher than that temperature. In at least one embodiment, heater coil 90 is configured as a stationary heater coil which is configured to be permanently or at least semi-permanently mounted inside of the body or third housing 35. Alternatively, third housing 35 could be configured as an intermediate adapter/add on which could be added onto a blower device via coupling 37 and which allows an additional heating coil to be added to a blower. There could also be an additional coupling element 39 which is used to couple to nozzle 91 as well. The entire device extends along a longitudinal axis 99 which extends along a length of the body as well as along a length of nozzle 91 as well.

As shown by the dashed dotted lines, the heating coil 90 extends along this longitudinal axis a sufficient distance to heat the air to a sufficient temperature to melt the snow and ice in a sufficient period of time suitable for a user. Consequently, the shield 93 can also extend along a sufficient distance along nozzle 91 to keep a user from being burned by contact with nozzle 91 or with housing 35.

Nozzle 91 is configured to be coupled to housing 35 via coupling element 39, which can form an adapter to receive nozzle 91. Nozzle 91 is configured to extend along longitudinal axis 99. Nozzle 91 in first section 92 is configured to be covered by shield 93. Shield 93 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. Second section 94 of nozzle 91 is an extending section while section 96 is a narrowing section. Thus, air enters the air intake region 21 and is then sent down the longitudinal axis 99 via blower fan 70 past heating coil 90. As described above, blower fan 90 is driven by blower motor 60 which receives power from transformer 50. As the air or fluid passes heater coil 90, it heats the air or fluid up so that a high temperature air is then sent along axis 99 or parallel to axis 99 and out narrowed nozzle section 96.

As shown in FIG. 2 there is a shield 93 which includes an outer shell 93 a as well as spacers 95 and an inner core 97. Spacers 95 space the shield 95 from the inner core. The limited contact between the outer shell 93 a and the inner nozzle 97 reduces the amount of conduction between the inner nozzle 97 and the outer shell 93 a so that the air spacing of these components. Shield 93 can be made from any suitable material such as metal, plastic, ceramic, or any other suitable insulating material.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the gas powered device 100. This gas powered device includes a first housing 120 and a second housing 130. First housing 120 and second housing 130 can be formed as one piece. There is also a third housing 135 as well. First housing 120 includes a handle 141, and an air intake 123. With this design, disposed inside of housing 120 is a gas tank 121, a motor 140. Motor 140 is configured to drive fan 150 so that motor 140 drives fluid such as air through the body, and along the longitudinal axis 199.

The design of FIG. 3 is also selectively covered by a shield 93 or 93′. Shield 93′ is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. Shield 93′ is similar to the shield 93 of FIG. 2 however the spacing is narrower. In this view the spacers 95′ are shorter and the inner nozzle 97′ is wider.

As shown in FIG. 5, motor 140 includes an electric motor 142 that includes a rotor 143 that is turned to generate electricity as well as fan 150. Essentially, electric motor 142 serves as an electrical generator driven by motor 140. Electric motor 142 includes an outlet 144 which allows a cable or line 146 to extend into heater coil 190 to provide power to heater coil 190 (See FIG. 5). Alternatively heater coil 190 which is housed inside of housing 135 can include a separate outlet 197 as well. Furthermore, housing 135 can also include adapters or coupling elements 137 and 139 which are configured to couple housing 135 to housing 130 or to nozzle 91 as well. This adapter and separate housing allows the device to be fitted as an after market part for an existing blower.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the device showing the three sections of the body, and showing the nozzle which is capable of being separated from the body as well. In this view, the third housing 35 is shown as separate from the other housings 20, 30 and separate from nozzle 91 as well. This configuration allows for the use of the third housing 35 along with coupling elements 37 and 39 to be used as an after market part to be coupled to an existing leaf blower.

Ultimately, the design allows for the creation of a portable heating system which is configured to melt ice, as well as snow. This device also allows for a system which includes an adapter which allows for allowing a heating element to be added to a blower such as a leaf blower to heat and melt ice and snow. This device allows for a portable system for clearing ice and snow in an environmentally friendly manner, whereby a user can avoid the use of salts and sand on ice or snow and instead rely on heated air to melt the snow away. The use of chemicals can cause the degradation of nearby plants, cement, pavement etc, as well as prove to be harmful to nearby animals, especially humans.

Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. An ice melting device comprising: a) a body section comprising at least one blower; b) a heater comprising at least one heating coil; c) at least one shield forming a thermal shield for the heater; and d) at least one nozzle for directing air produced by said blower, wherein said heater is positioned downstream of said blower so that fluid flow produced by said blower passes said heater and is heated by said heater and is then passed through said nozzle so that said heated air melts ice on a surface.
 2. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein said blower comprises at least one blower motor and at least one fan.
 3. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein said blower motor is a gas powered motor.
 4. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein said blower motor is electric.
 5. The ice melting device as in claim 1, further comprising an electrical cord, wherein said blower motor further comprises at least one electrical outlet, and said heater comprises at least one electrical outlet, and wherein said blower motor is configured to provide power to said heater via said cord.
 6. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein said shield further comprises at least one outer body and at least one spacer spacing said outer body from said nozzle.
 7. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein said shield is substantially cylindrical shaped and comprises an outer shell, a plurality of spacers, and an inner shell, wherein said plurality of spacers are coupled to said outer shell and said inner shell and space said outer shell from said inner shell.
 8. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein said nozzle is an elongated nozzle having a longitudinal axis, wherein heater comprises an electrical coil, wherein said electrical coil extends along a longitudinal axis of said nozzle.
 9. The ice melting device as in claim 8, wherein said heater extends along approximately ⅓ of a length of said nozzle.
 10. The ice melting device as in claim 8, wherein said heater fits inside of said nozzle and is removable from said nozzle.
 11. The ice melting device as in claim 6, wherein said outer body of said shield comprises a non-metallic material.
 12. The ice melting device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical outlet in electrical communication with said heater.
 13. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein an outlet is disposed on an exterior region of the housing.
 14. The ice melting device as in claim 13, wherein a second outlet is disposed on an exterior region of the housing.
 15. The ice melting device as in claim 13, wherein an outlet is disposed on said shield.
 16. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein said nozzle is made from metal.
 17. The ice melting device as in claim 1, wherein said body section comprises a housing having at least two sections, and at least one coupler, wherein said coupler is for coupling said two body sections together.
 18. The ice melting device as in claim 1, further comprising at least two housings, with at least one housing for housing said blower motor and said fan, and at least a second housing for housing said heater, wherein said second housing is coupled to said first housing and said nozzle is coupled to said second housing.
 19. The ice melting device as in claim 18, wherein said second housing is releasably coupled to said first housing.
 20. An ice melting device comprising: a) a body section comprising at least one blower and at least one housing; b) a heater section comprising at least one heating coil and at least one housing; d) at least one nozzle for directing air produced by said blower; e) at least one coupling element for selectively coupling and uncoupling said body section, said heater section and said at least one nozzle together, wherein said heater is positioned downstream of said blower so that fluid flow produced by said blower passes said heater and is heated by said heater and is then passed through said nozzle so that said heated air melts ice on a surface. 